Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Box Sets From A Very Special Christmas, Buddy Holly, Hendrix, Motown, Rolling Stones, U2, and Klaus Voormann Plus a Rarity From Nirvana Arrive for the Holidays

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Historic Jimi Hendrix concerts... a legendary performance from Nirvana... U2's remastered The Unforgettable Fire... every recording by Buddy Holly... a new generation of talent on A Very Special Christmas, every Motown #1 hit... nearly every Rolling Stones album since 1971... and a collection from famed sideman Klaus Voormann. With new box sets and albums from UMe, holiday gift-giving has never sounded so good.

A Very Special Christmas:

Selling one million copies in its first year, the premier album, A Very Special Christmas, released in 1987, and the subsequent albums in the series, have generated more than $l00 million for Special Olympics, the most ever raised by a benefit recording series. Set for release on November 23, A Very Special Christmas - Volume 7 (A&M/UMe), incorporates a new generation of superstar talent; Colbie Caillat, Carter Twins, Miley Cyrus, Vanessa Hudgens, Sean Kingston, Leighton Meester, Kellie Pickler, Ashley Tisdale, Carrie Underwood, as well as many others, add to the latest edition of the acclaimed album series featuring original recordings of new and traditional Christmas songs which each artist selected especially for this album.

Buddy Holly:

He had a brief three-year professional recording career, but Buddy Holly left the music world a vast recorded legacy of 203 tracks--all of them on the limited edition six-CD Hip-O Select box set Not Fade Away/The Complete Studio Recordings And More.

The tracks range from his earliest recordings to demos with Bob Montgomery; from his earliest recordings with The Crickets to his first studio recordings for Decca in Nashville; from the Coral and Brunswick recordings and hits that made him famous to his heralded apartment tapes. There are six previously unreleased tracks plus another 11 previously unreleased in the U.S. All of the original, locatable undubbed recordings and all 57 overdubbed versions recorded after the "day the music died" are here. Many are hard-to-find or make their CD debuts.

Jimi Hendrix:

Two box sets from Dagger Records (Experience Hendrix through Geffen/UMe), offered exclusively through Amazon.com, are each presented with exclusive reproductions of Hendrix memorabilia, including a poster, postcard set replicating classic Hendrix concert posters, set of badges reminiscent of the era, Hendrix iPod Skin, PikCARD with four guitar picks adorned with Hendrix artwork from the concert posters and more.

Jimi Hendrix Experience Live 1968 Paris/Ottawa encompasses a pair of concerts, highlighted by performances of "Purple Haze," "The Wind Cries Mary" and "Little Wing" from the L'Olympia Theater in Paris and a "Hendrixized" version of the Beatles' "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" taped at Ottawa's Capitol Theater later that same year. Jimi Hendrix Experience Paris '67 is a custom-swirled, colored vinyl album documenting an earlier concert at L'Olympia and featuring performances of "Stone Free," "Hey Joe," "Wild Thing," etc.

Motown:

The 10-CD box set Motown: The Complete No. 1's (Motown/UMe) brings together every Motown No. 1 hit, from every U.S. and international chart and from every genre--a staggering 192 tracks--plus 10 bonus tracks whose cover versions were No. 1, for a otal of 202 No. 1 recordings.

One of the most bootlegged concerts in the annals of rock-- Nirvana's August 30, 1992, headlining appearance at the U.K.'s Reading Festival--Nirvana Live At Reading (DGC/Geffen/UMe) will be issued in a limited edition DVD+CD Deluxe Edition in November. The footage and audio come in the original multi-track masters and are presented in 5.1 Surround Sound. Only two of the 25 performances on the DVD have ever been released before.

The concert ranked #1 in Kerrang's "100 Gigs That Shook The World" and "Nirvana's #1 Greatest Moment" by fans in an NME poll includes nearly the entire Nevermind tracklist, early performances of then-unrecorded songs ("All Apologies," "Dumb" and the first performance of "Tourette's") and live versions of songs later heard on Incesticide. The career-spanning set list also reaches back to the band's beginnings.

The Rolling Stones:

Thirteen of the 14 Rolling Stones albums since 1971 have been newly remastered and are available from UMe separately or in a limited edition collectible box set exclusively through Amazon.com (1972's Exile On Main St. will be remastered and released in early 2010). Included is a full-color poster of the band's Sticky Fingers classic promotional image re-created specially for this package.

U2's fourth album, The Unforgettable Fire, has been remastered for the first time with direction from U2 guitarist, The Edge, and will be released by Island/UMe on October 27, 2009. This special edition marks 25 years since the album's original release in October 1984. Recorded at Slane Castle, Ireland, The Unforgettable Fire was the first U2 album to be produced by Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois, and spawned the US top 10 hit - "Pride (In The Name Of Love)."

The limited edition super deluxe box set features bonus audio material, including two previously unheard tracks from the Slane Castle sessions: "Yoshino Blossom" and "Disappearing Act" (a track which the band recently completed), and a DVD including music videos, a documentary and unreleased live footage from the Amnesty International Conspiracy of Hope Tour in 1986.

Klaus Voormann:

On A Sideman's Journey (UMe), famed musician Klaus Voormann, who played bass on solo albums for every Beatle as well as for Harry Nilsson, Randy Newman, Yoko Ono and others, is joined by musical friends in seven studio sessions in London, Memphis, Hamburg, Los Angeles and Munich. The limited edition two-disc box set, available exclusively through Amazon.com, includes three bonus audio tracks, a DVD documentary on the makin of the album, a hardbound book of photos (renowned graphic designer Voormann created the Beatles' Revolver cover) and more.

I am continuing our new feature: Ask "Mr. Music." Now in its 23rd year of syndication (1986-2008), Jerry Osborne's weekly Q&A feature will be a regular post every Wednesday from now on. Be sure to stop by Jerry's site (www.jerryosborne.com) for more Mr. Music archives, record price guides, anything Elvis, buy & sell collectibles, record appraisals and much more. I thank Jerry for allowing the reprints.

FOR THE WEEK OF OCTOBER 19, 2009

DEAR JERRY:I found a cassette tape hand-labeled “Doo-Wop Collectors Classics,” which provides no information about any of the songs or artists.

Surprisingly, all but one of the 20 or so tunes are ones I am completely unfamiliar with, by anyone. The one I do know is “Just One Look,” a hit in the '60s by Doris Troy, the Hollies, and Linda Ronstadt.

Any chance you know the name of the group singing “Just One Look”?—Mario Cassell, Corpus Christi, Texas

DEAR MARIO: It is a certainty. This is in fact the original May 1963 release of “Just One Look,” by Andy and the Marglows (Liberty 55570). Their record preceded Doris Troy's version by about two weeks.

This group recorded only four songs (issued on two singles), all of which are on a 25-track CD album that you seem to have on tape: “Doo-Wop Collectors Classics, Volume 6.”

Having recently been in contact with Lamont Russell on another matter, he is the perfect person to enlighten us on the brief recording history of Andy and the Marglows:

“I sang with Andy and the Marglows in 1963, when we recorded for Liberty Records.

“Other members of our group were Andy Huff, his brother Terry, and Mickey Freeman. We all lived in Washington D.C. at the time.

“The first single was “Just One Look,” backed with “Symphony,” on which I sang the lead. Background vocals are by Doris Troy and two other ladies whose names I don't recall.

“Our manager drove us to Liberty Records in New York, a Los Angeles label with an office in N.Y. There, in the office of Ed Silver, our producer at Liberty, is where we first heard Doris Troy's “Just One Look” demo tape.

Though we begged Ed to let us record the song at the same tempo heard on Troy's demo, he kept saying that he needed it to be funky.

“Doris Troy, who also wrote “Just One Look,” wanted it recorded at Liberty the way it was on her demo, and not at the upbeat tempo that Ed had us using.

“Upon release in Detroit, one radio station selected our “funky” version as the Battle of Sounds best Rhythm and Blues Recording of the Month. Stations were playing our song like crazy, but only for about two weeks. That is when Doris Troy's version (Atlantic 2188) came out … and we were history.

“I think that if we had recorded “Just One Look” just as we heard it on the demo, there would have been no reason for Doris Troy to record the song herself. Her eventual release for Atlantic sounded just like her original demo.

“Though Doris Troy made the Top 10 with “Just One Look,” she never had another Top 100 hit.

“Our second and last single, “I'll Get By,” backed with “Superman Lover” (Liberty 55623), came out in October 1963.

“A dozen years later, the summer '75 chart hit, “The Lonely One” (Mainstream 5581) came out credited to Special Delivery Featuring Terry Huff. This outfit includes brothers Terry, Andy (half of Andy and the Marglows) and Jimmy Huff.”

DEAR JERRY:Like many teenage boys in the 1960s, I had a huge crush on Annette (Funicello).

Now, 45 years later, many have forgotten just how popular Annette was at the time.

This international superstar had hit records, popular TV shows, and major motion picture films, all going at the same time.

In one show I saw on television back then, Annette is cast as a dance hall girl in the old west. As such, she sings a song or two, much to the delight of a saloon full of rowdy cowboys.

Do you know these songs, and if they were on records. Also, what is the name of the movie?—George E. Culley, Milwaukee

DEAR GEORGE: Let's begin with that made-for-television movie. It is “Golden Horseshoe Revue,” a Frontierland feature on Walt Disney's Sunday night series “Wonderful World of Color.” This episode aired on September 23, 1962.

At first Annette bores the local dudes with the Gay '90s-type ballad, “Hang a Lantern in Your Window.” As the cowboys get up to leave, Annette turns on the charm and sings the up-tempo “Mister Piano Man.” The men quickly return to their seats.

A single of “Mister Piano Man,” with a gorgeous photo sleeve picturing Annette festooned in her character's showgirl costume, (Buena Vista 405) came out in the summer of 1962.

I know of no issued recording of the 54-second “Hang a Lantern in Your Window.”

IZ ZAT SO? With a career that began in 1956, Annette became the Rock Era's first single-name star, years before Dion left the Belmonts, Cher sang apart from Sonny, and Donovan made every effort to “Catch the Wind.”

"Live at the Olympia" features 39 songs R.E.M recorded at the Olympia Theatre in Dublin, Ireland. In addition to the four LPs pressed by Furnace MFG, this limited-edition box set also includes two CDs and an hour-long DVD performance documentary of five nights of live rehearsals titled "This Is Not A Show."

Fairfax, VA (PRWEB) October 21, 2009 -- For five nights in July 2007, R.E.M. performed and recorded a series of working rehearsals at the famed Olympia Theater in Dublin, Ireland in front of passionate, capacity crowds. New material was tested at these working concerts, some of which would eventually end up on their album "Accelerate." Thirty-nine songs were selected to form the tracks included of the box set "Live at the Olympia."

The live rehearsals were filmed by Vincent Moon and turned into an hour-long performance documentary featuring live concert footage from all five nights of the rehearsals. The documentary is also airing in select venues for a one-night-only sneak preview screening to coincide with the release of the box set.

With our exclusive partnerships with world-class vinyl pressing plants and our experience in exacting and difficult assembly and configuration, more and more customers are turning to Furnace MFG for one of a kind projects.

Warner Bros selected Furnace MFG for this special project, and the records were pressed at Furnace's German partner - Pallas Group Worldwide. Pallas has a long history of extremely high-quality vinyl pressing and is considered the plant of choice for many audiophile record labels throughout the world.

The limited edition box set includes 4 LP records in gatefold sleeves, 2 CDs, a DVD, a 24" x 36" tour poster as well essay notes from Peter Buck on each of the 39 songs. All of these components are housed in a sturdy slipcase to protect and display the collection.

"Furnace MFG has a strong reputation for special edition, multiple component vinyl packaging," says Manish Naik, Furnace MFG's COO. "With our exclusive partnerships with world-class vinyl pressing plants and our experience in exacting and difficult assembly and configuration, more and more customers are turning to Furnace MFG for one of a kind projects."

R.E.M.'s "Live at the Olympia" limited edition box set will be released on October 27, 2009 and is available for pre-order at http://www.remdublin.com

About Furnace MFG:In business since 1996, Furnace MFG (www.furnacemfg.com/vinyl) is a recognized leader in CD and DVD duplication, replication, and vinyl record manufacturing and packaging.

According to a band update: "The album will be released in a couple of different formats. One of the first officially confirmed information is that the very first editions will be a 2 Disc Limited Edition (containing 1 CD + 1 Live DVD). The bonus live DVD offers approx. 55 minutes of all previously unreleased material. Professionally filmed with six cameras during the band’s highly acclaimed 15th anniversary special show, which has been commended as a 'firestorm' during the P&L Festival in Sweden 2008, cannot be missed! The album will also include the brand new video for 'My Funeral'."

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The Mighty Mighty Bosstones

The Mighty Mighty Bosstones have revealed the cover art for their upcoming new album Pin Points and Gin Joints. You can get a new track, "Graffiti Worth Reading", for free through their store.

The album currently has no release date, but is expected out sometime later this year. The genre-defining band released Medium Rare in 2007 after a brief hiatus.

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Country Music Honored

The U.S. House of Representatives has passed a resolution honoring country music for its contributions to America. Representative Cliff Sterns (R-FL) said:

"Country music traces its roots to the folk tradition of the British Isles and the Celts of central and western Europe; however, here in the United States, early immigrants, as well as African slaves, contributed to a new, distinct style of music that continued to develop through the 18th and 19th centuries. The history of country music is the history of our country.

"Subgenres such as bluegrass, folk and gospel have combined the unique instrumentation of country with powerful vocals to create one-of-a-kind sounds. Today, the influence of American country music is worldwide, with large fan bases in Canada and Australia, as well."

Jazz giant Dizzy Gillespie was born today in Cheraw, SC in 1917 (died January 6, 1993).

Born today in 1946, Lux Interior (Erick Lee Purkhiser), singer and founding member of The Cramps. Died in Glendale, California on February 4, 2009.

Born on this day in 1952, Brent Mydland, The Grateful Dead. He was found dead on the floor of his home on July 26, 1990 (age 38) from a drug overdose.

Bill Black, Elvis Presley's bass player, (1954-57), died in 1965, four months after receiving surgery to remove a brain tumor (age 39). With guitarist Scotty Moore, and Elvis Presley on rhythm guitar, Black played on a number of the King's hits. After leaving Presley Black formed Bill Black's Combo.

Blind Melon lead singer Shannon Hoon died in 1995 of a cocaine/heroin overdose in New Orleans. He was 28.

In 2003, singer-songwriter Elliott Smith (real name Steven Paul Smith) was found dead of a self-inflicted stab wound to the chest. Smith was 34.

In 2006, singer, songwriter, and drummer Sandy West died. Founding member (with Joan Jett) of all girl group The Runaways, hailed by fans and critics alike to be one of the most groundbreaking drummers in rock and roll history.

History:

Today in 1957, the song "Jailhouse Rock" by Elvis Presley topped the charts and stayed there for 7 weeks.

In 1958, in what will be his last studio session, Buddy Holly recorded, "True Love Ways," "It Doesn't Matter Anymore," "Moondreams" and "Raining in my Heart" with the Crickets in New York.

Bob Dylan recorded his first album, "Bob Dylan," for Columbia Records in 1961. The album presents the 20-year old singer accompanied by his guitar and harmonica. The recording was done in a day and productions costs run $400. Filling out his income-tax form, Dylan gave his name as Blind Boy Grunt.

The Kingsmen appeared on "Shindig!" in 1965, performing "Louie Louie."

In 1965, wanting to improve on a previous recording session The Beatles started from scratch on a new song called "Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)," finishing recordings in three takes. They also began working on a new John Lennon song "Nowhere Man."

The Who, done up in pop-art costumes and equipped with smoke bombs, flash powder and other stage devices, appeared on British television's Ready Steady Go! in 1966. They played music from their rush released EP, "Ready Steady Who!" This included the "Batman Theme," "Barabara Ann," "Bucket T," "Circles" and "Disguises."

Today in 1967, the song "To Sir with Love" by Lulu topped the charts and stayed there for 5 weeks.

Nashville's top Country Music Awards in 1968 went to Jeannie C. Riley's "Harper Valley P.T.A." for best song and to "Johnny Cash at Folsom Prison" for best album.

In 1972, seventeen years after writing and recording the first of his many rock & roll classics, Chuck Berry gets his first US #1 pop hit with "My Ding-a-Ling." It's a singalong novelty song derived from grade-school level private parts jokes. It is Chuck Berry’s most commercially successful single, bigger than “Roll Over Beethoven,” “Johnny B. Goode” or “Rock and Roll Music.” Amazing.

Also in 1972, Curtis Mayfield started a four-week run at #1 on the US album chart with soundtrack to "Superfly."

John Lennon began producing his "Rock 'n' Roll" album himself at the Record Plant Studios in 1974.

In 1976, Keith Moon played his last North American show with the Who as he and the band wrap-up an extensive year of touring at Toronto's Maple Leaf Garden.

Led Zeppelin's "The Song Remains The Same" movie debuts in New York in 1976.

"Road to Ruin," the Ramones’ fourth album, was released in 1978. It contains such anthems as “I Wanna Be Sedated” and “I Just Want to Have Something to Do.”

In 1997, Elton John's 'Candle In The Wind 97' was declared by the Guinness Book Of Records as the biggest selling single record of all time, with 31.8 million sales in less than 40 days and raising more than £20 million for charity.

In 2001, Concerts at Madison Square Garden and the RFK stadium in Washington were expected to raise millions in funds for the victims of the Sept 11th attacks. Stars who appeared included Michael Jackson, Tom Petty, Aerosmith, *NSYNC, P Diddy, James Brown, Paul McCartney, David Bowie, Eric Clapton, The Who and Elton John.

In 2003, Elton John signed a three-year, $50 million deal to perform 75 shows at Caesar`s Palace.

Neil Young's 20th annual Bridge School Benefit Concert gets underway in 2006. The two day event at the Shoreline Amphitheater in Mountain View, CA, featured Pearl Jam, Foo Fighters and Nine Inch Nails' frontman Trent Reznor, who gave a rare acoustic set. Young joined Pearl Jam onstage and sits in on pump organ to play "Good Vibrations" with Brian Wilson. When the Dave Matthews Band covers Young’s "Cortez The Killer," Neil adds acoustic guitar. Proceeds go to the nonprofit learning organization for physically or verbally impaired children that Young's wife co-founded. This was the fifth year Pearl Jam performs at the Bridge School concerts.

In 2006, Alice In Chains are among more than 20 bands that perform in different cities across North America as part of MySpace.com's Rock For Darfur initiative to help the battle-torn region of Sudan. AIC play in Winston-Salem, NC, and a portion of profits benefit the Oxfam humanitarian organization.